Les Joutes du Loch

This was an experience we won’t soon forget and something completely unique that we probably couldn’t have experienced if we had planned it. I will describe it as we saw it… Then be sure to watch the video below to get the full effect.

In the morning, we could hear noise coming from a loudspeaker, and when we went out into the village of St-Goustan, just steps from our Airbnb, we discovered something happening on the river. We had seen tents set up on either side the day before, including one with a stage facing the river, which seemed odd to us. There were crowds of people lined up on either side of the river, watching something happening there. It turns out there was a huge one-day event called “Les Joutes du Loch.” (Loch is pronounced “lock” and is the name of the river.) It’s a tradition that dates back … 17 years!

On the river were two boats, about 200 metres apart. The scene that unfolded was nothing like anything I could have predicted. About eight people in costumes sit in the boat. Six of them row, and one steers toward the other boat using a rudder while drumming and bagpipe music plays. One person from each team is standing on a ledge that looks like a ladder sticking out sideways from the boat. They’re wearing a helmet and a lifejacket with a target on it. Here they are, getting set up.

Then the person who is on the ledge grabs a long stick with what looks like a tennis ball on the end. When the two boats get close enough, the rowers lift their oars out of the water. Then the real action starts, but it’s brief. Blink and you miss it. The person on the ledge tries to push off the person on the other boat’s ledge. This is basically water jousting on boats.

I think my description is pretty good, but you have to see it to truly appreciate it.

We had planned to spend a quiet day doing some homeschooling, but we decided we needed to embrace the local culture and watched the water jousting for most of the day.

There are several teams representing different towns in the area. There are men/co-ed and women’s teams. They all dress up in costumes based on themes. Some of the best ones were The Simpsons, gladiators, pirates rocker girls, and holiday Santas. They really go all out. There was a food and a beer tent and hundreds of people watching right until all but two teams remain in the semi-finals in each division and a winner is crowned.